S. Mariæ Magdalenæ Pœnitentis

The penitent Mary Magdalen

Images are by J-J Tissot (Brooklyn Museum).

Sancta Maria Magdalena, ora pro nobis!

Before her conversion.

From the Sermons of Pope St. Gregory the Great.

25th on the Gospels.

Mary Magdalen, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, through love of the truth, washed away in her tears the defilement of her sins, and the words of the Truth are fulfilled which He spake Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much. She who had remained chilly in sin, became fiery through love. When even His disciples went away again unto their own home, Mary still stood without at the sepulchre of Christ, weeping. She sought Him Whom her soul loved, but she found Him not. She searched for Him with tears; she yearned with strong desire for Him Who, she believed, had been taken away. And thus it befell her, that being the only one who had remained to seek Him, she was the only one that saw Him. It is the truth that the backbone of a good work is perseverance.

℣. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.

℟. Thanks be to God.

Thy faith hath made thee safe, go in peace.

48 And he said to her: Thy sins are forgiven thee.  

49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves: Who is this that forgiveth sins also?  

50 And he said to the woman: Thy faith hath made thee safe, go in peace.

48 εἶπεν δὲ αὐτῇ· Ἀφέωνταί σου αἱ ἁμαρτίαι.

48 Dixit autem ad illam : Remittuntur tibi peccata.  

49 καὶ ἤρξαντο οἱ συνανακείμενοι λέγειν ἐν ἑαυτοῖς· Τίς οὗτός ἐστιν ὃς καὶ ἁμαρτίας ἀφίησιν;

49 Et coeperunt qui simul accumbebant, dicere intra se : Quis est hic qui etiam peccata dimittit?  

50 εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα· Ἡ πίστις σου σέσωκέν σε· πορεύου εἰς εἰρήνην.

50 Dixit autem ad mulierem : Fides tua te salvam fecit : vade in pace.

The penitent Mary Magdalen.

Homily by St. Augustine, Bishop of Hippo.

Bk. 1. Hom. 23, tom. x.

Ye have listened carefully to the Gospel while it was being read, so that the thing told hath, as it were, passed before the eyes of your heart. Ye have seen in your mind's eye, albeit not with bodily sight, the Lord Jesus Christ sitting down to meat in the Pharisee's house, and not refusing when He is bidden of him. Ye have seen also an infamous woman of the city, one of utterly bad character, a sinner, thrusting herself in an uninvited guest, to the banquet where her Healer was sitting, and seeking health at His hands with godly shamelessness; thrusting herself in eager for mercy, as though eager for the feast. She knew under what a disease she laboured, and she knew that He unto Whom she came was mighty to cure it.

℣. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.

℟. Thanks be to God.

 

Mary hath chosen the best part, which shall not be taken away from her. 

Father of lights! one glance of thine,

Whose eyes the universe control,

Fills Magdalene with holy love,

And melts the ice within her soul.

Her precious ointment forth she brings

Upon those sacred feet to pour;

She washes them with burning tears,

And with her hair she wipes them o'er.

Impassioned, to the cross she clings.

Impassioned, to the cross she clings,

Nor fears beside the tomb to stay;

Nor dreads the soldiers' savage mien,

For love has cast all fear away.

O Christ, thou very love itself!

Blest hope of man, through thee forgiven!

So touch our spirits from above,

So purify our souls for heaven.

To God the Father, with the Son

And Holy Paraclete, with thee,

As evermore hath been before,

Be glory through eternity.

Amen.

℣. Grace is poured into thy lips.

℟. Therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.

Mary and the risen Christ

Prov. 31:10-11

Who shall find a valiant woman? Far and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her. The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no need of spoils.

℟. Thanks be to God.

Hymn

Son of the Highest, deign to cast

On us a pitying eye;

Thou, who repentant Magdalene

Didst call to endless joy.

Again the royal treasury

Receives its long-lost coin;

The gem is found, and, cleansed from mire,

Doth all the stars outshine.

O Jesus, balm of every wound!

The sinner's only stay!

Wash thou in Magdalene's pure tears

Our guilty spots away.

Mother of God! the sons of Eve

Weeping thine aid implore:

Oh, land us from the storms of life

Safe on th' eternal shore.

Glory, for graces manifold,

To the one only Lord;

Whose mercy doth our souls forgive,

Whose bounty doth reward.

Amen.

℣. God hath chosen her and forechosen her.

℟. He hath made her to dwell in His tabernacle.

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The Vladimirskaya Icon. >12th century.

SUB tuum præsidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genitrix. Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus, sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper, Virgo gloriosa et benedicta. Amen.

 

 

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.